Kay Gresham was remembered Wednesday among friends and colleagues as an advocate for education and the Onslow County community.

“Our community has lost a great one,” said Onslow County Board of Education Vice Chairman Brock Ridge, who worked with Gresham during his long career with the school system.

Ridge echoed the thoughts of many, describing Gresham as a true professional and wonderful person who served her home community in many capacities.

Gresham, a native of Jacksonville, died Wednesday at Duke University Medical Center from complications following surgery. She was 65.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.

Gresham, known affectionately by students as Dr. Kay, worked for Onslow County Schools for nearly 45 years.

She was most recently director of Thompson Early Childhood Center and director for Early Childhood Initiatives and Federal Services, but her career included many roles.

She joined the school system as a teacher at Dixon and early in her career was the reading lab teacher at Blue Creek Elementary School. She moved to the central office during the 1977-78 school year.

Dr. Lesley Eason, Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services and Continuous Improvement, said Gresham served the school system in a “rare and special way.”

“Kay was the type of educator, human being and civic servant we should all aspire to be,” she said. “One of her most special qualities as a district leader was her innate ability to honor the whole child; from the time he/she enters school in pre-kindergarten until he/she graduates. In the course of a very normal day, Kay would begin her day with her pre-K children and quickly transition to ensuring that Onslow’s most outstanding graduates would receive well-deserved scholarships for college. In her loving memory, she taught us that work ethic, vision and a deep passion for family, friends and this school system are tenets for realizing excellence in all that we do.”

School board member Earl Taylor said his family knew Gresham from the time they arrived in Jacksonville and as members of Trinity United Methodist Church. Taylor said he also was privileged to know her professionally through working with the school system.

“I’ll always remember her as a strong advocate for children young to old. Education was her passion,” he said.

She helped to initiate and served as executive director on Sponsors for Academic Talent (SAT) Inc., which promotes academic excellence by providing scholarships to students who meet the requirements.

School board member Jeffrey Brown recalled Gresham’s dedication to the More at Four program and helping to expand the program even as it experienced federal budget cuts.

“She always went over and above to do what she could do (for the students),” he said.

Just as she gave to the school system as an educator, she worked to support her community as well.

She was an active Rotarian and member of the Jacksonville Rotary Club.

Craig Wagner, current president of Jacksonville Rotary Club, said Gresham was the first female Rotarian in the Rotary district and first female president of Jacksonville Rotary.

She was also preparing to take on the position of District Governor for the southeast region of Rotarians.

“That’s a real tribute to how involved she was in Rotary and her dedication to its principles of service above self,” he said.

Gresham also worked through Rotary to enhance opportunities for students.

She was instrumental in starting the Interact Club at Jacksonville High School and started the Onslow Rotary Youth Leadership Conference.

“She was truly inspirational,” Wagner said.

Gresham was also a past chairwoman of the Board of Governors for the Governor’s School of North Carolina and served on the steering committee to establish Onslow County Women’s Center.

In recognition of her service to community, she was named Onslow County Woman of the Year in 1998 and also received the award as one of Onslow County’s Top Ten Women of the Decade.

Board of Education Chairman Pam Thomas said Gresham’s impact was felt throughout the Onslow County community.

“We are certainly going to miss her not only in our school system but throughout the entire community,” she said. “Not only was she dedicated to the students and Onslow County Schools but she was certainly dedicated to Rotary and did so many wonderful things.